Jim Cumbes, whose first team future seemed in doubt when Villa attempted to sign Derby’s Graham Moseley last week, spent most of this match trying to persuade manager Ron Saunders that his transfer priorities should lie elsewhere.

Cumbes may not be the most consistent of goalkeepers but when properly applied his considerable skills place him among the top exponents of his art.

The fact that he chose The Dell to stage an outstanding individual display on Saturday will not do much to increase his popularity with Villa fans. But if their team wins promotion by a point, Cumbes will be able to present an argument that he won it.

With Mike Channon and Peter Osgood in their front line it was inevitable that Southampton should create scoring opportunities despite the well drilled defence in depth presented by Villa.

But although they found a way past Villa’s defenders there was no way round Cumbes.

When the ball was pumped high over his defence to the far post Cumbes was there, shouldering off the charges of Osgood and Jim Steele to collect cleanly.

When the Saints caught Chris Nicholl or lan Ross on the turn there was Cumbes racing out to plug the gap.

And when he stayed on his line it was to make five tremendous saves, including three from Channon, whose individual contribution to the Saints’ effort was colossal.

With Just a little more help the England striker would have sunk Villa for there were occasions when less talented members of the Southampton attack did Cumbes’ job for him.

Bobby Stokes and Steele both fired wide with only Cumbes to beat and Osgood, who flitted In and out of the action but showed he still has the ability to pull defences apart, missed two sitters from inside the six yard box.

While Cumbes was kept busy. Villa presented lan Turner In the Southampton goal with limited problems which was a pity.

A little more adventure up front, where Ray Graydon looked a match winner but lacked support, and they just might have collected two points rather than one.

Leighton Phillips, making his first full appearance since his £100,000 signing from Cardiff, had a promising debut but, like the rest of the Villa team, had to give second best to Cumbes.